Jack Del Rio won’t leave Broncos during 2013 season, source says

A team source told The Denver Post Sunday morning that defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will not leave the team during the 2013 season.

Del Rio’s name has come up as a possible target for USC in its search for a new head football coach; the team fired Lane Kiffin after its Saturday loss to Arizona State.

Del Rio’s contract with Denver is up in February, and whether he stays with the Broncos or pursues a job elsewhere remains to be seen.

The defensive coordinator played football and baseball collegiately at USC before spending 12 seasons in the NFL, and he’s coached at the pro level ever since, for the Saints, Ravens, Panthers, Jaguars and now Broncos.

So far in 2013 he’s been responsible for leading a defense that has put up the best numbers against the run game in the NFL and has been a pleasant surprise after losing Von Miller and Champ Bailey for the beginning of the season.

Please dont be like McCoy. Dont do interviews the week before a playoff game.

lifesbeengoodtome

Absolutely. I think that is really low class. If your team is in the playoffs, you should wait until they are over to officially interview for employment on another team. Not as a rule, just ethics. You wouldn’t be getting that job offer if it weren’t for the team you’re coaching now. If I were the one doing the hiring, I would respect that coach more if they told me it will have to wait until their obligation to their team has been completed.

David Tesler

Actually – the smartest thing right now for Bowlen to do is give him an immediate 3 year extension with enough money to not to think about the USC job.

doyle

Very true that would be the thing to do

MarkATaylor

Money is not always the #1 motivator. It’s the guy’s alma mater. It will not surprise me at all if he leaves regardless of lucrative extension offers.

CMFJ

True. Aside from being his alma mater, he would be the head guy of one of the (historically) top programs in college football. Being able to rejuvenate that program and potentially be in contention for national championships, as during the Pete Carroll era, would seem to be a draw.

doogansquest

Plus great weather, huge recruiting draw, and having complete control over the players (as opposed to the massive egos of the NFL) are all selling points.

armoderate

I think we need to financially convince this guy to stay for at least 2 more years. I hope we can.

47YearBroncoFan

Perish the thought!! I second all comments that Mr. Bowlen should open his wallet and give JDR whatever money and guarantees he wants.

On the other hand, where there’s smoke there’s fire.

thrifty70

The smart thing is to extend Del Rio with assurances that he takes over for John Fox in a few years.

doogansquest

Fox is only 58… Plus, the whole “guarantee him a takeover” can play with egos, intentions, and even the locker room.

45coltauto

Pay the man whatever he wants, we need stability on the D.

Fred

I agree with thrifty70. Make him the HC in waiting, and pay him to wait.

cmdenver

BBD-Bigger Better Deal, Most Players and Coaches are always looking for the BBD.
What is the BBD for Jack Del Rio? USC, head coach in the NFL, only Jack knows…
For this season, lets see how good the Broncos defense can become, its ONLY
a game at a time, and then there’s that Superbowl…

Hope Jack can get the defense to rise to the occasion, after that-It’s Jacks’ call.

Becky Meitin

Jack Del Rio is far more effective as a defensive coordinator than a head coach. It will be interesting to see if he wants to give it a try at the college level. I hope he stays in Denver.

Elotro Martinez

“A team source?”

Gee besides being a long-winded, inept writer, Joan Niesen also falls into the company of lazy and content sports writers.

Anonymous sources. Isn’t that what reporters/writers use when they want to say what they want? Anonymous sources. Isn’t that what “sources” use when they want to say what they want? It’s disgraceful. If you want to badmouth/write/report on someone, stand up and take the heat. That goes for spineless writers/editors as well as wretched sources. A pox on you!

joe

Dang tired of loosing D Coordinators. I guess that is the price you pay for greatness. However, I would rather see him go to USC and send guys to the Broncos than him go to the Chiefs and fulfill the tri-fecta.

gwats1957

Pay the man!

Pam Mueller

He’s done a great job. Now keep Champ Baily on the sidelines so we go all the way!

Mike Mathers

Keep showing him pictures of Los Angeles, followed by pictures of Denver. Then administer an IQ test. Have you been to the USC campus lately? If so, don’t leave the grounds for fear of being killed. A big contract from Mr. Bowlen wouldn’t hurt. He is one helluva defensive coordinator.

lifesbeengoodtome

Maybe we could just have Fox and Del Rio trade off every other year as head coach/defensive coordinator. No I’m not really serious, but I think it would work great.

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.